Best Test-Optional Southern Colleges

There are 307 test-optional colleges in the South, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.

Duke University leads South test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also highly ranked: Rice University, Vanderbilt University and Emory University.

Without test scores, your GPA, activities, recommendation letters, and essays carry more weight. Compare acceptance rates, tuition, and enrollment across the colleges below. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states. See our ranking methodology for how schools are scored.

307 Results
Sort:
South Test Optional Public Private 4 Year
Texas A&M University College Station Campus

credit : eschipul / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • College Station, TX
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

Texas A&M is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. A large Corps of Cadets gives the College Station campus a long-standing military tradition.

#21 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $21,437
Details
Rhodes College Campus

credit : euthman / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Rhodes is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology and international studies. The collegiate Gothic campus sits in a wooded residential section of Memphis.

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1486
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 50%
  • Net Price $31,037
Details
Virginia Military Institute Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

VMI is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering and the sciences. All students join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a military regimen on the historic Lexington campus.

#22 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,825
Details
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Campus

credit : w_lemay / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Raleigh, NC
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

NC State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and textiles. The campus sits in Raleigh within North Carolina's Research Triangle.

#23 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1470
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $15,522
Details
Clemson University Campus

credit : Jason A G / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Clemson, SC
  • 4.4 | 10 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Clemson is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The lakeside campus sits in the Blue Ridge foothills beside Lake Hartwell.

#25 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $25,003
Details
Elon University Campus

credit : MPD01605 / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Elon, NC
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 10 application deadline

Elon is a private university known for undergraduate communications and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Elon.

#4 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1280
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $44,440
Details
Virginia Tech Campus

credit : Paul_CK / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Blacksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Virginia Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Blacksburg in Virginia's Blue Ridge region.

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,912
Details
Centre College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Danville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Centre is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, politics, and the natural sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Danville.

#1 Best Value in Kentucky 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 54%
  • Net Price $23,860
Details
Wofford College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • 3.1 | 8 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Wofford is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, finance, and government. The historic campus in Spartanburg has a large Greek system.

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1198-1343
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $30,481
Details
University of Delaware Campus

credit : mathplourde / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Newark, DE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Delaware is a large public university known for undergraduate chemical engineering, business, and fashion studies. The campus is set in the college town of Newark.

#1 Best Value in Delaware 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.94
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $19,139
Details
St. Mary's College of Maryland Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • St. Mary's City, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public honors college known for undergraduate liberal arts. The historic campus sits on the St. Mary's River in southern Maryland.

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1143-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $21,071
Details
Baylor University Campus

credit : cogdogblog / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waco, TX
  • 4.2 | 14 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and prehealth programs. The residential campus sits along the Brazos River in Waco.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $47,001
Details
Loyola University Maryland Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Loyola Maryland is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and communications. The wooded residential campus sits in a northern Baltimore neighborhood.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $32,846
Details
Southwestern University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Southwestern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate study in the arts and sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in historic Georgetown, north of Austin.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $32,228
Details
Austin College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sherman, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

Austin College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and international studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Sherman, north of Dallas.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $23,462
Details
Rollins College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winter Park, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Rollins is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business and international studies. Most undergrads live on a lakeside campus along Lake Virginia in Winter Park.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $39,201
Details
University of South Carolina Columbia Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

South Carolina is a large public university known for undergraduate international business and hospitality management. The historic Horseshoe anchors the campus in downtown Columbia.

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1360
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $24,488
Details
Citadel Military College of South Carolina Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

The Citadel is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering, business, and criminal justice. Most undergrads join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a structured military system on the historic Charleston campus.

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1085-1285
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 23%
  • Net Price $22,124
Details